Aaron Rodgers To Start Sunday

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers will be under center when the Green Bay Packers play the Bears in Chicago for the NFC North championship on Sunday.

Saying he’s excited to be back now that he’s been medically cleared, Rodgers will start the game after missing seven straight with a left collarbone injury. That’s good news for a Green Bay team that went 2-5-1 once Rodgers went down during the first series of a 27-20 loss to the Bears in Green Bay on Nov. 4.

The Packers have been riddled by injuries. Linebacker Clay Matthews is out again after aggravating a right thumb injury. Running back Eddie Lacy is hobbled by an ankle injury, though McCarthy is optimistic about the rookie’s chances to go Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled defenseman Slater Koekkoek from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced. Koekkoek, 21, has skated in 66 ga